The Florida Department of Health confirmed the state’s first death from dengue fever this year as cases of the mosquito-borne illness continue to rise.<\/p>\n
The department did not provide any details about the patient including name, age, sex or residence.<\/p>\n
The Tampa Bay Times<\/a>, which first reported the death, described the patient as an 80-year-old Tampa woman who died on Sept. 4.<\/p>\n The FDOH did not immediately return ABC News’ request for comment.<\/p>\n For the week ending Sept. 12, Florida has confirmed 152 locally acquired cases of dengue, according to data<\/a> from the state health department.<\/p>\n This is the highest number recorded since 2023, when the state saw 189 locally acquired cases over the course of the year, data<\/a> from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows.<\/p>\n Hillsborough County — which includes Tampa — has reported the most cases so far this year with 134, according to the FDOH. Other counties with confirmed cases include Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco and Pinellas.<\/p>\n Close-up of a mosquito biting human skin.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Joao Paulo Burini\/Getty Images<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Dengue viruses are spread through bites from infected Aedes species mosquitoes<\/a>, mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions, according to the CDC<\/a>. These mosquitoes are also responsible for spreading Zika and chikungunya viruses.<\/p>\n Dengue can be caused<\/a> by dengue virus strains 1, 2, 3 or 4. A person also can be infected with dengue multiple times over the course of their life.<\/p>\n About one in four people who contract dengue develop symptoms<\/a> which typically last two to seven days and are usually mild. This may include fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, joint pain and bone pain.<\/p>\n About one in 20 infected people will develop severe dengue, which can lead to shock, internal bleeding and, in some cases, death, the CDC said.<\/p>\n There are no disease-specific treatments for dengue. The CDC recommends rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms. Patients with severe illness often need to be hospitalized and receive additional supportive treatments, such as intravenous fluids.<\/p>\n The CDC warns patients not to take aspirin or ibuprofen; it can trigger inflammation or bleeding of the stomach lining.<\/p>\n Currently, there is no dengue vaccine<\/a> available in the U.S. In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<\/a> approved a vaccine for children between ages 9 and 16 who have a laboratory-confirmed previous dengue virus infection and live in areas where dengue is endemic, but it has since been discontinued.<\/p>\n![\"aspirin\"](\"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/0d53a5c0-32d8-4c81-94c9-8e8c9db47bae\/mosquito-gty-jef-260921_1790006080758_hpMain_4x3.jpg?w=375 "\\"aspirin\\"")
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>